Richard klinger



(No Model.)

R. KLINGER.

WATER. GAGE.

Patented Mar. 15, 1892.

me uowsynsns co., Mm-ninna., wasnmnmu, nA c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD KLINGER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

WATER-GAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,858, dated March15, 1892.

Application led November 13, 1891. Serial No. 411.825.

(No model.) Patented in Germany October 28, 1890, No. 57,753; in

France November 8, 1890, No. 209,881: in Belgium November l0, 1890, No.92,664; in England November 13, 1890, No.

18,273 in Switzerland December 22, 1890, N0. 3,273, and in A To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD KLINGER, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, in the Empire of Austria- Hungary,have invented new and useful Improvements in Water-Gages, (for whichIhave obtained a patent in Austria-Hungary on .Ianuary 8, 1891, No.41,874 and No. 69,029; in Germany on October 28, 1890, No. 57,753; inBelgium on November 10, 1890, No. 92,664; in France on November 8, 1890,No. 209,381; in England on November 13, 1890, No.'18,273, and inSwitzerland on December 22, 1890, No. 3,273,) of which the following isa specification.

My invention is based upon the optical law of the total reiiection ofthe light when passing from a medium of greater refracting power into amedium of less refracting power, as explained in the following: Vhen aray of light passes from a medium of greater refracting power into oneof less refracting power, the angle which said ray forms with theperpendicular is enlarged. There must therefore exist a limit for theangle of incidence in the medium of greater refracting power outside ofwhich limitthe law of refraction cannot be corresponded to any more.This limit lies, for instance, for the passage of light from glass intoair between forty-one and forty-nine degrees. Therefore if a ray oflight forms in glass, for instance, an angle with the perpendicular evenbut very little larger than the critical angle, this ray cannot leavethe glass any more, but is reflected inwardly upon the surface oftheglass after the general law of reflection. If there is, for instance,water behind the glass, such a ray is not totally reflected, butcontinues its passage through the water in a refracted state.

The object of my invention is in making use of the optical law and thecircumstances just referred to to apply suitable facets orrefleeting-surfaces to the observation-glasses of gages for indicatingthe level of water or other liquids in such manner that the part ofthese glasses which is covered by the liquid will permit the passage ofthe light, while from that part of these glasses covered by thegasustria-Hungary January 3,1891,No.41,874 and No. 69.029.

eous body-such as steam or air, for instance- 5o the light will bereiiected from said facets, so thata sharp and clear demarkation isproduced between the two bodies, which will permit to discern plainly,even from a distance, the level of the liquid in the gage.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrates my invention, Figure 1shows in elevation a water-gage provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 isa cross-section through the same after line a: y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 showsa similar cross-section of a modified gage. Figs. 4 and 5 show insimilar cross-sections two further modiiications. Fig. 6 shows a singlefaceted glass, and Fig. 7 shows my gage as employed as an automaticindicator of the lowest water-level in steam-boilers.

In all figures similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

a is the casing of a gage, provided with the usual connecting-tubese'and f, to which casing a frame b is attached by means of screws d d,or in any other suitable manner. Be tween frame b and casing a, theobservationglass c is inclosed and tightened to hold the contents of thegage. Glass c is provided with the facets or reflecting-surfaces e',which may either be ground, pressed, cast, or formed in any other mannerupon the same, as shown in Fig. 2, or the observation-glass may, asshown in Fig. 3, be plain on both sides, and a separate facet-glass maybe placed inside of the casing.' The part of the casing situatedopposite the facet-glass forms or carries the background g, which I makeblack by preference, but which may be of any other color.

When the gage contains a liquid of any kind, the light falling upon theobservationglass will, according to the before-mentioned principle, passthrough the facets and the liquid, making the background visible, whileupon all those parts not covered with the liquid the light will bereiiected from the facets, and the steam,air, &c.,contained in that partof the gage will appear opaque. The eect of this in a water-gage, forinstance, provided with a black background is that the water will appearperfectly black, while that part of the gage containing the steam willshine with a silvery brightness. This arrangement offers over theexisting water-gages the great advantage that the height of the watercan be clearlyand unmistakably seen even in the often dim light of aboiler-room and from a distance.

Gages after my system may also be made with two or moreobservation-faces, as shown in Fig. 4t of the drawings, where two of theapparatuses above described are joined back to back.

'The kind, number, form, and direction of the facets may be chosen atwill, and, as shown in Fig. 6, a glass with but two facets orrefracting-surfaces may be employed.

For certain purposes-as, for instance, in vacuum-pans for boiling sugar,glue, &c., where it becomes necessary to observe from time to time alsothe color of the liquid orits consistency-a gage after my system` may beemployed with a removable background, as shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. Here the rear of the gage is provided with a plain transparentglass c', behind which the background gis placed upon or formed byahinged or sliding plate 7L, which can at will be removed in order tomake the liquid visible in its natural color. Otherwise the gage may beconstructed as above described.

Instead of using a background, my faceted gage-glasses may also beemployed in such manner that they are arranged upon either side of thecolumn of water and steam in t-he ap paratus-that is, in the front andin the rear thereof. If a gage of this kind is lighted from behind, thepart containing the water will show bright and that containing the steamopaque, the water permitting the passage of the light, while from thesteam part it is relected.

In Fig. 7 I have shown an application of my gage as an automaticindicator of the lowest water-level in steam-boilers. The apparatus ismounted upon a pipe R, reaching with its other end into the steam-boilerK, down to the lowest admissible water-level. As long as the water inthe boiler stands above the lowest level it covers the mouth of pipe Rand the gage will remain filled with water, which in the glass, when ablack background is used, for instance, will appear perfectly black. Inthe moment, however, when the water sinks below its lowest level thewater from the gage will flow back and the latter will be lilled withsteam, appearing in the glass bright and shining, and thus indicatingthat the water,

has sunk below its proper level.

Instead of employing a separate pipe, the gage might be connected withthe lowest gagecock of the boiler for the same purpose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. Glasses for liquid-gages, provided with facets or reflecting-surfacesin such manner that they will permit the passage of the light Wherecovered by the liquid and entirely or partially reflect the light wherenot covered by the liquid, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. The combination of glasses provided with facets orreflecting-surfaces with the frame or casing of a liquid-gage,substantially as described.

3. In liquid-gages, the combination, with a suitable frame or casing, ofglasses provided with facets or reilecting-surfaces and a coloredbackground, substantially as described.

4c. In liquid-gages, the combination, with a suitable frame or casing,of glasses provided with facets or relecting-surfaces,a plain glassplate c in the rear part of the gage, and a removable background,substantially as described.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICH. KLINGER.

Titnessesz A. ScHLnssINe, RoB'r. P. JENTZsCH.

